You’ve heard people claim that dogs are a man’s best friend, but what about cats? Yes, they are smaller than most dogs, but that doesn’t change the fact that they can be just as loyal, loving, and important to their owners as dogs. Due to the special relationship between owners and their cats, it’s natural to worry when something doesn’t seem normal. Hearing an odd clicking sound from your cat’s jaw is one of those times.
There are several reasons you may be hearing clicking from your cat’s jaw. While some of these issues are relatively common, when clicking is coupled with pain or refusal to eat, attention must be paid. Let’s learn more about jaw clicking, often called tooth grinding, to better understand this issue and what the sound could potentially mean for your cat’s health.
Jaw clicking or tooth grinding is generally caused by one of the following reasons:
When dealing with a noise coming from your cat’s mouth and jaw area, the immediate first thought is oral problems. Unfortunately, several oral diseases can make a cat’s jaw click, with some being more painful and dangerous than others. Let’s take a look at a few of them below.
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1. Feline Tooth Resorption
Feline tooth resorption can be a quite painful cause of jaw clicking. This takes place when dentin, the tissue that is found beneath a tooth’s enamel, begins to erode and is eventually destroyed. There are two types of feline tooth resorption, both of which can cause your cat pain. This condition is usually determined by X-rays of your cat’s teeth and often results in tooth extraction.
Signs of this issue can be as follows:
Jaw clicking
Avoiding food
Drooling
Lessened activity due to pain
2. Tooth Alignment
If your cat’s teeth are out of alignment, also known as malocclusion, you may hear a click come from its jaw.
3. Other Oral Issues
Issues such as ulcers, infections, or cancer in the mouth may make your cat click its jaws or grind its teeth. A visit to your veterinarian is the quickest way to determine if any of these other oral issues could be the problem.
The Temporomandibular Joint
Not only could your cat’s teeth be the problem, but it may also be the jaw itself. The temporomandibular joint is the hinged part of your cat’s jaw. It is formed by the mandible and temporal bones and is better known as the jaw joint or the TMJ. There is a TMJ on each side of your cat’s face that works together to help your cat chew and move its mouth correctly. If there is an issue with this area of the jaw, your cat may not be able to eat properly and an audible clicking sound may be heard.
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Signs of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Unfortunately, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is quite painful for cats. It can also significantly affect your cat’s health if untreated. Here are signs of TMJ that you should look for if you hear an odd clicking sound and feel something could be wrong with your cat’s jaw.
If you notice any of these signs of discomfort your cat should see a veterinarian immediately:
The cat is unable to open or close its mouth
Shifting of the jaw from side to side
Muscle atrophy or other facial deformities
The cat refuses to eat or drink
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Dehydration
Unusual pawing at the face
Drooling
Meowing more than normal
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What Causes Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?
With TMJ disorders being such a scary condition for cats to deal with, you may be wondering what can cause these issues. Unfortunately, not all conditions of TMJ are explainable or fully understood. It all depends on what type of TMJ disorder your cat is dealing with.
Here are a few causes that you should be aware of so you can better understand this issue and help treat your cat:
Accidents or trauma to your cat’s face or jaw
Congenital defects or issues
Infections
Cancer
When You Should Worry About Jaw Clicking
As with any condition your pets suffer from, knowing when to reach out to a veterinarian can be difficult with jaw-clicking. In most instances, it can be nothing. It can be a one-time occurrence or simply something your cat does. Then again, as you’ve seen above, jaw clicking can be a sign of painful issues that your cat needs you to step in and help take care of.
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If you see your cat showing signs of discomfort, such as meowing or pawing at its face, the problem could be more severe. Also, monitor your cat’s appetite carefully. If jaw-clicking stops them from eating or drinking water, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Not eating and drinking can lead to severe issues that can affect your cat’s overall well-being.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many reasons your cat may be clicking their jaw. If this action worries you, or you see any signs of discomfort or pain, you should reach out to your veterinarian. They will run the proper diagnostics to find the underlying cause and get your cat on the mend quickly. This will ease your worry and allow you to enjoy quality time with your pet once again.
A native of East Tennessee, Melissa is an avid animal lover who enjoys writing in her notebooks and playing outside with her many pets. Currently, she has two cats, Princess and Pepper, who are total opposites that demand constant attention. Her three dogs, Jazzy, Whitey, and Demon, are spunky troublemakers.
Melissa is also a dedicated wife and mother to two children. Beyond her career as a freelance cat writer, she’s a published Indie author under the pen name Rena Marin!
